Monday, October 25, 2010

Today my daughter and I were walking into the garage. We have a two door garage, one is manual. As I was pulling the door up she ran under it, my hand faltered. NOTHING HAPPENED. I caught it, things were fine. After a few deep breathes to calm myself down, I decided this was one of those "teachable lesson" moments.

I had a large bag of apples with me since we were coming home from the grocery store. I explained to her the door was heavy, so heavy that it could hurt her if it fell on her. Then I showed her the apple and reminded her mommy has to use a knife to cut the apple in the kitchen, and then I lightly dropped it on the ground so she could see that it doesn't break open (kinda crossing my fingers on that one). I told her we were going to see what the heavy garage door could do to the apple. I placed the apple down and let the door fall on it from less than half way up. BAM, APPLE SAUCE!

My three-year-old daughter jumped back wide-eyed. I raised the door and showed it to her better. I said to her, "if it hurt the apple that bad, do you think it could hurt you?" She stood there and after a second more staring at the apple she said, "yes." Then we talked about how she can only go under the door when Mommy says it's safe. I hope the talk sticks with her, but in the mean time, I at least feel better. I didn't get an important lesson slip past me even though I was exhausted and hungry.

I'm a firm believer in teaching children healthy fears about mortality. Sometimes it's by example (apple), sometimes its by experience (letting her face go under the water in a pool). I think I could do the same stunt for other things like dangers of cars, climbing, etc. ... I will make sure I spread it out though. I don't want her to come home one day with a giant mallet, $20 in fruit, carrying a Gallagher poster. But until I catch her with a watermelon telling me she's just, "hanging out." I think I found a good way to explain a few of life's dangers to her.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

I am so very VERY tired of cheese pizza. Not that we're housing pizza down every night, But if we have pizza the 3 year old insists on getting cheese or she won't eat.

I couldn't take it anymore and almost didn't eat dinner a few nights ago. Then like all great epiphanies, necessity kicked my brain into gear and I came up with an idea. CHEESE PIZZA IS JUST A BLANK CANVAS!

I ran to my fridge and cheered. There in front of me were the makings of a gourmet slice of pizza. I threw on it prosciutto, argula, olive oil, and zested a lemon and added a little juice as well. I popped it in the microwave for 20 seconds, topped it with some parmesan, and there it was. A SLICE OF PIZZA THAT WOULD COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG AT A FANCY PIZZERIA.

It was so incredibly good I had two more slices. I usually just have 1.

Now, I know not everyone likes fru-fru pizza. But I assume whatever is in your fridge is an example of how you like your pizza. But if you need ideas, find your favorite pizza place or nearby gourmet pizza place's online menu and look it over. Keep the ideas on file for the next Friday night when your small child yells, "I want pizza! Cheese pizza!"

Monday, September 20, 2010

I have 3 main reasons why I do not use traditional window cleaning products routinely found in stores. They're full of harmful chemicals, they cost too much, and they never do a good job cleaning up greasy messes. I feel no matter what type of clothe I use or which cleaner I use grease on the window appears to smear around the window.

Solution, wet your preferred towel (clothe or paper) and add a dab of dish soap, and get your towel nice and soapy. Wipe your window down. While the window is still wet, dry the window with a dry towel. And that's all there is too it! If you feel you have a NASTY mess, before you dry the window go ahead and go back over the window with just a water soaked towel.

Paint Splatter stuck on window

This is a really easy fix. Make a baking soda paste out of water and baking soda. Use a clothe to scrub the window with the baking soda paste. Clean the window with water and repeat if you missed any spots. The really nice part is most paint sprayer splatter is on the outside of your house, just grab the hose! No need to be dainty when you clean the baking soda paste off.

Friday, September 17, 2010

A friend on facebook sent me this link a while back. There are a bunch of cool ways to use vinegar. Click here.

Body odor. If you're feet are smelly or if your man has a problem zone that he just can't seem to clear the smell out of. Pour vinegar on it! Hydrogen Peroxide works well for this too. Make sure to wash the peroxide off though.

If I had to pick one reason why I love cleaning with vinegar it would be this, my daughter loves to imitate me. She loves to clean with my squirt bottle and a towel. If I used anything like 409 I would chronically be in sheer fear that she would find my cleaner in an attempt t o be like mommy. Where with vinegar, I chuckle and just hand her my squirt bottle and smile.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Recently I was visiting _____ (name has been blanked to protect me from harm) and discovered a nightmare in their bathroom... their bathtub was brown. I mean, I can make a mess but seriously, a brown bathtub?? So I fixed it for them.

C's solution for nasty nasty tub-

Make a paste out of baking soda and water. Put a large quantity of the paste onto a rag and SCRUB! Normal soap scum will come up like butter, harder soap scum might take a small amount of elbow grease. I have found when stains get that bad, 409 won't help you, bleach is no good, and small scrubber on the back of a sponge, please you'll gum it up in 10 seconds.

Scrub tub, rinse with water, or clean out your rag and wipe the tub back down real quick.

And when you get done, not only will your tub be clean and sanitized, BUT IT WILL SHINE!

Friday, July 16, 2010

My daughter is NOT picky eater, but still, from time-to-time my kiddo will decide she doesn't want to eat her normal go to foods. I don't always mind this, it gives me an opportunity to try out new foods on her. I do have an issue with it when i have 7 bananas left or a full box of oatmeal wasting away.

To fight her food rejections I got creative. I dressed up the snacks. For a banana I slice it in half, add a little peanut butter for glue, and then I let her decorate the banana with shredded coconut and SPRINKLES! Sprinkles are key! I can let her add them to anything and she'll eat it. Boring oatmeal, add sprinkles and its the best breakfast ever. A baked sweet potato, add sprinkles and its golden. Raisins are good too. My three favorite mix-ins are shredded coconut, sprinkles, and raisins. I like them since I can store them easily once she's over the food blues and then I have them for the next round of, "No don't want that!"

I've been doing this for 6 months now and it never fails. Let your kid get creative (even if it grosses you out) and they'll eat foods they think are tired and mundane.